Upper buffing device for vestibule face-plates.



0. HOCHBERG &L J. COOPER.

UPPER BUFFING DEVICE FOR VESTIBULE FACE PLATES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 15. ms.

1,164,000. Patented Dec.14,1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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OSCAR HOGHBERG AND JAMES J". COOPER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGIIORS TO AMERICAN CAR AND FOUNDRY COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORA- TION OF NEW JERSEY.

UPPER BUIEFING DEVICE FOR VESTIBULE FACE-PLATES.

Application fi1ed February 15, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, OSCAR Hocrinnno and JAMES J. COOPER, citizens of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Upper Buffing Devices for Vestibule Face- Plates, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

Our invention relates to railway car construction, and pertains specifically to an improved bufling means for supporting the up per portion of the vestibule face plate.

The principal objects of our invention are, to provide such a bufiing device which will firmly support the face plate in proper position, which readily compensates for various movements of the face plate, and which effectively operates to prevent chattering of the face plates upon each other.

Other objects of the invention will be obvious or pointed out hereinafter.

There are two general forms of upper buffing devices for supporting the face plates of vestibule cars, in one of which is employed a pair of plungers or buffer rods slidably operating in sockets attached to the car framing and having their outer ends aflixed to the face plate, the rods being spring-pressed outwardly. The other consists of a semi-elliptical spring mounted at its ends on the end of the car and attached at its center to the upper portion of the face plate. Both of these forms have certain undesirable features, which it is the purpose of our invention to obviate.

Our invention may be utilized in connection with the semi-elliptical spring referred to, or may form the entire upper support and bufling mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, in which like characters of reference are used to indicate like parts throughout, it will be understood that Figure 1 represents a plan view showing a portion of the car end, the face plate, and our improved bufiing mechanism used 'in connection with .a semi-elliptical spring.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of one form of our improved bufling mechanism substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and Fig. t

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

Serial No. 8,308.

showing the relationship of parts when the face plate is projected to its maximum limit. Fig. 3 is a similar longitudinal section showmg the relationship of parts when the face plate is retracted to its maximum limit. Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view taken approxin'iately on line l-.l of Fig. 2. Fig.

is a detail illustrating the cap of the casmg. Fig. 6 is a detail illustrating the friction block. Fig. 7 is a detail illustrating the casing. Figs. 8 and 9 are details illustrating the lever members. Fig. 10 is a plan view similar to Fig. l but showing one method in which our invention may be employed as the sole upper support and bufiing mechanism.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, it will be understood that 1 indicates the end portion of the car and 2 the face plate. It will be understood that the face is connected to the car underframe by any suitable commonly employed lower buffing mechanism, and has attached to it the outer end of the collapsible diaphragms 4, the inner extremities of which are connected in the usual fashion to the car end. 5 represents a semielliptical spring the ends of which are suitably secured to the car end by means of brackets 6, and the central portion of which is attached to the face plate 2. At 7 is illustrated generally our improved bufling mechanism, illustrated in detail in Figs. 2 to 9 inclusive.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that our improved buffing mechanism is made up of a casing member 8 and cap member 9 which are connected by a longitudinal bolt 10 upon which is supported and guided an expansible coiled spring 11. The coiled spring bears at its upper extremity against the cap member 9, and at its lower extremity against a friction .block 12. The friction block 12 cooperates with the inner ends of lever members 14: which are fulcrumed upon a fulcrum block 15 forming a part of the casing 8. The outer extremity of one of the lever members 14: is pivoted at 16 to the car end and the outer end of the other lever member is pivoted at 17 to the face plate.

The form of the various members will be understood by reference to Figs. 5 to 9 inelusive. The casing 8 has end walls 18 and side walls 19 which are connected by the fulcrum block 15. The side walls 9 are slotted longitudinally, and have their lower portions cut away to form rectangular openings. The lever members 14 are identical, being formed with stops 20 on their outer extremities, laterally directed bearing lugs 21 at one side of the arm 22 and arcuate bearing members 24 at the other side of the arm. The arm 22 is beveled off at 22 up to the lug 21, and the arcuate bearing member 24 is joined to the arm 22 along this beveled edge by sloping flange 25.

In assembling the device, the lever members 14 are inserted in the casing member 8, the arms 22 being inserted in the slots of the side walls. Upon the lever members being lowered to the bottom of the casing, the flanges 25 will pass out of the rectangular openings, permitting the lever members to assume a nearly horizontal position upon the fulcrum block 15. The lug 21 on each lever member will engage the arcuate bearing member 24 of the opposite lever member, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The friction block 12 is then placed in the casing so as to rest on the upper portions of the arcuate bearing members 24, and the bolt 10, with the cap 9 and spring 11 in place thereon, is then inserted through the friction member 12 between the bearing members 24, and through the aperture in fulcrum block 15, and secured in position by a nut, which may be tightened to place the requisite compression uponspring 11. j The under surface of friction block 12 is rounded out to conform to the arcurate contour of bearing members 24, and the spring 11 operates to hold the friction block always in frictional engagement with the bearing members 24, which tends to hold the lever members in divergent position, due to their fulcrum bearing on fulcrum block 15. As the levers 14 are not connected, it is obvious that the spring and bearing members cooperate with each of said levers independently of the other.

It will be understood that when cars are coupled together, the face plates make contact with each other, and will place the spring 11 under a certain additional compression by moving the outer ends of the lever members 14 together and raising their inner ends against the influence of the spring by rocking the levers on the fulcrum block. When the cars are rounding a curve, which requires a compensating movement of the sides of the face plates at the inside of the curve, the face plates will be moved still farther inward, moving the pivotal points 16 and 17 closer together and rocking the lever members 14 still farther against the influence of the spring 11. The farther inward the face plate moves, the more effective will become the force of spring 11 due to its nearing its limit of compression, and due resistance is offered to the various movements of the face plates by the friction introduced by the bearing of friction block 12 on lever members 14, and the friction bearing of lever members 14 on fulcrum block 15. V This construction operates to prevent chattering of the face plates upon each other by preventing movements of the face plates from casual vibrations which tend to throw them apart. At the same time the arrangement gives the bufling support sufficient resiliency to permit the face plates being moved inwardly to the maximum necessitated by movements of the cars relative to each other. the device provides a bufling support for the face plate which holds the latter firmly in place where it is not subjectto being moved by casual vibrations, and which at the same time is possessed of sufiicient resiliency to permit the necessary compensating move ments of the face plates.

In the arrangement illustrated 1n Fig. 1, wherein the device described is used in con- It is obvious, therefore, that junction withthe semi-elliptical spring, its

effect is to add stability to the support, which is not furnished by the semi-elliptical spring, due to its length and its pliability necessary to allow for sufficient movement of the face plate.

In the form illustrated in Fig. 10, we employ a pair of our improved buffing supports, one attached at each side of the face plate. This arrangement permits the movement of either side of the face plate independently of the other. With this arrangement the buffing supports support the upper portion of the face plate and act as the entire buffing means to permit the compensating movements of-the face plate. In this arrangement the bufling device may be disposed as shown in Fig. 10, or may be disposed with the casing vertical, the position of the device illustrated in Fig. 1. In this arrangement the springs 11 operate to hold the face plate normally at its extended position, but of course permit the inward movementof the face plate in response to the stresses imparted thereto due to the change in position of the cars. The friction which operates to resist movements of the face plate operates to give stability to the support and .prevent vibration of the face plate due to minor stresses not induced by relative change of position of the cars which necessitates compensating movements of the face plates.

We are aware that various-changes and modifications may be made in the device Without departing from the essence and scope of the invention. Therefore, we do not intend to be limited to the specific forms and arrangements herein shown and described.

iVhat we claim is:

plates of railway cars comprising relatively movable supporting members attached respectively to the car and face plate, a fulcrum member with which said supporting members have frictional engagement, and yielding pressure means operating to hold said supporting members in' frictional engagement with said fulcrum member and to urge said supporting members for divergent movement.

'2. In av car construction, an upper bufling support for a diaphragm face plate compris ing lever members pivot-ed respectively to the face plate and the car and pivoted for convergent and divergent movement, a fulcrum member with which said lever members cooperate, and yielding pressure means operating to oppose convergent movement of the lever members and to maintain the same in frictional engagement with the fulcrum member.

3. In a device of the class described, lever members pivoted respectively on the face plate and the car and having movement in a direction transversely of the direction of movement of the face plate, yielding pressure means cooperating with said lever members to oppose movement of the face plate, and co-acting friction bearing members cooperating with said lever members under influence of said yieldingpressure means to frictionally oppose movement thereof.

4. In a device of the class described, a pair of lever members pivoted respectively to the face plate and the car, and co -acting friction members cooperating with said lever members to impede movement of the face plate.

5. In a device of the class described, a pair of lever members having pivotal connection with the car and the face plate and pivotal movement relative to each other, and co-acting friction members cooperating with the lever members to impede the pivotal movement thereof.

6. In a device of the class described, spring-pressed levers forming a support for the diaphragm face plate and movable under tension to permit compensating movements of the face plate, and co-acting friction members affording impedance to movement of said lever members.

7. In a device of the class described. a fulcrum member, pivot levers slidably fulcrumed thereon and attached respectively to the face plate and car, and yielding pressure means disposed to oppose movement of said lever members on said fulcrum member.

8. In a device of the class described, a pair of lever members connected at their inner ends for pivotal movement and at their outer ends to the face plate and car, yielding pressure means cooperating with the inner ends of said lever member, and a fulcrum member I i I k g;( )tipel'zltillg wltll said lever members inter- 1. A bufling support for diaphragm face I mediate their ends.

9. In combination with an elastic means for supporting the face plate, friction elements cooperating with the car and the face plate and adapted to offer impedance to movement of the latter.

10. In a car construction, a face plate, flexible elastic means cooperating with the same to position it, and yieldable friction means'coiiperating with the same to oppose movement thereof.

11. In a car construction, a face plate, elastic actuating means cooperating with the same to position it, friction means cooperating with the face plate to oppose movement thereof, and means for varying the efiicacy of the actuating means during movement of the face plate.

12. In a car construction, a movable face plate, a lever having a variable fulcrum and cooperating with said face plate to transmit motion thereto, and means for imparting pressure to said lever.

13. In a car construction, a movable face plate, a lever having operative connection therewith. yielding pressure means cooperating with said lever, the fulcrum of'said lever being movable during movement of the face plate to vary the effectiveness thereof.

1+l. In a device of the class described, a pair of lever members each having one end free and pivoted respectively to the face plate and car, spring-pressed means cooperating independently with the free ends of said levers, and means for retaining the free ends of said levers in cooperative association with said spring-pressed means.

15. In a device of the class described, a

pair of levers pivoted respectively to the face plate and the car, a housing forming a guide for the free ends of said levers, and a spring-pressed means operating within said housing for frictionally engaging said levers.

16. In a device of the class described, a pair of levers pivoted respectively to the face plate and the car, a housing forming a guide for retaining the free ends of said levers in association, and spring-pressed means operable within said housing for frictionallv engaging said levers.

17. In a device of the class described. a pair of levers cooperating respectively with the face plate and the car, a housing forming a guide for said levers, and yielding presnesses, this 13th day of February, 1915.

OSCAR HOOHBERG. JAMES J; COOPER. 7

sure means Within said housing and 00- operating With each of said levers to urge them for divergent movement.

18. In a, device of the class described, a pair of levers coiiperating respectively with the face plate and the car, a member upon which said levers are fulcrumed, and yielding pressure means adapted to actuate said levers.

Witnesses E G. FRANK PRICE, RODNEY BEDELL.

Gopie: of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). C. V 

